Potato-digger.



No. 642,696. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

J. R. HUMPHREY.

POTATO BIGGER.

(Application filed July 26, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 642,596. Patented-FebQG, I900.

J. n. HUMPHREY.

POTATO BIGGER.

(Application filed July 26, 1898.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 642,696. Patented Fob.-6, I900.

J. B. HUMPHBEY.

POTATO BIGGER. (Applicaflau filed .m 20, 1898 (No Model.) aSheets-Silent a.

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Nrrnn STATES PATENT Ornron.

JOHN R. HUMPHREY, OF ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHNA. ORANSTON, OF SAME PLACE.

POTATO- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,696, datedFebruary 6, 1900.

Application filed July 26, 1898.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. I-IUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elk River, in the county of Sherburne and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPotato-Diggers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved potato-digger;andto this end it consists of the various novel .devices andcombinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in theclaims.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the' machine. Fig. 2 is a right sideelevation of the same with some parts broken away. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical section taken through a portion of the machine onthe line m of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detail of the axle of the front truckand its pivotal mounting. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 00 xof Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the driving-sprockets and theclutch which connects it to the hub of the cooperating traction-wheel,and Fig. 7 is a detail in horizontal section taken on the line 00 m ofFig. 2.

The main frame of the machine comprises a pair of parallel angle-bars 1,the central portions of which are rigidly tied together by a heavytransverse yoke 2 and a pronged and curved yoke or bracket 3, the prongsof which are pivoted to the for ward ends of said an glebar 1, as shownat 4. The ends of the yoke 2 are formed with outturned trunnions 5, onwhich traction-Wheels 6 and driving-sprockets 7 are loosely andindependently mounted. The hubs 8 of the traction-Wheels 7 are formedwith segmental seats 9, that are more than a semicircle in extent and inwhich the correspondingly-formed hubs of loose drivingpawls 10 areadapted to be loosely mounted. These pawls 10 are gravity-actuated andare normally held in engagement with internal teeth 11, with which thedriving-sprockets 7 Serial No. 686,902. (No model.)

two directions on the teeth 11. This makes it unnecessary to constructthe parts in rights and lefts for the right and left sides of themachine.

Thefront truck comprises a pair of wheels 12, which in diameter are muchless than the traction-wheels, and a bent or U-shaped axle 6o 13,provided with outturned trunnions 14, on which said wheels 12 areloosely mounted. As shown, the axle 13 is formed in sections, Whichsections are rigidly secured to the depending flange 15 of a prongedhead 16 by means of a nutted bolt 17. The lower and flattened end 18 ofa heavy pivot-bolt or pintle 19 is pivoted between the lugs or cars ofthe head 16 by means of a nutted bolt 20 or similar device. The upperend of this pivotbolt or pintle 19 is pivoted in a vertical seat formedin the forward end of the bracket 3, and fora purpose which willpresently ap-- pear it is formed at this upper end with screwthreads 21.22 indicates a head or casting provided with prongs which embrace theforward end. of the bracket- 3 and through which said pivot-bolt orpintle19 is also passed. However, said pintle or bolt 19 is caused torotate with the head or casting 22, but is free to move verticallythrough the same by means of a key 23, carried by said head 22 andworking in a vertically-elongated seat in said bolt or stem. The pole 24is pivotally connected to the head 22, as shown, by means of a nuttedbolt 25. The forward truck-wheels 12 run much closer together than thetraction-wheels, but are spaced far enough apart to straddle a row ofpotatoes. Mounted on and between a pairof bearings or castings 26 on thebracket 3 is a screw-gear 27, which is in mesh with the screw-threads 21of the pintle 19.

28 indicatas a rod which is mounted at its rear end in a yoke-likeextension 29 from the bracket 3 and at its forward end in lugs 30 of oneof the bearings 26. Between the lugs 30 the rod 28 is provided with aworm or screw-threaded section 31, the teeth of which are in mesh withthe teeth of the worm-gear 27. At its extreme rear end the rod 28 isprovided with a hand-crank 32, by means of which it may be turned atwill. 33 indicates the two-horse evener, which, as shown, is pivoted toa bracket 34, that depends from the bracket 3, just to the rear of thepintle 19.

35 indicates the drivers seat, which, as shown,is secured to aspring-support 36,which in turn is rigidly secured to the central portion of the yoke 2 and is provided with a depending end 37. Thisdepending end 37 has a square or angular passage 38, in which theangular hub of a nut-block 39 is fitted. The forwardly-projecting end ofthe nut-block 39 is screw-threaded and is engaged by a nut 40, whichholds it in place. Both the nut 40 and the head of the block 39 arebeveled 011 their inner faces, so that while the nut-block 39 cannotrotate it is free for considerable angular movement in the seat 38.

41 indicates a long tension rod, the forward end of which is swiveledand pivoted,as shown at 42, to a small transverse angle-piece 43,rigidly secured in the crotch of the yoke or bracket 3. The intermediateportion of this tension-rod 41 works through the nut-block 39, beingprovided with screw-threads 44 for affording a screw-thread edengagement therewith, and at its extreme rear end said tension-rod isprovided with a hand-crank 45, by means of which it may be readilyturned.

Rigidly connected between the forward ends of the angle-bars-andprojecting forward in a plane approximately parallel therewith is afiat-pointed shovel or plow 46, which when lowered serves to unearth ordig up the potatoes. The forward point of this shovel or plow-blade 46works centrally between the rear portions of the forward truck-wheels12. Fromthe rear portion of said shovel a series of closely-locatedparallel fingers or slats 47 project rearward. As shown, these fingersor slats 47 are rigidly secured to a transverse supporting-bar 48, whichunderlies and is spaced apart from the rear edge of said shovel 47.

49 indicates parallel longitudinallyextended slats, and 50 transversebars, of a vibrating or shaking apron which is mounted to work orvibrate longitudinally of the machine between the angle-bars 1, the samebeing suspended: for such movements by means of pivoted hangers or arms51,whieh,as shown, are pivoted at their upper ends to projections 52from the said angle-bars. It should be noted that the forward ends ofthe slats 49 work between the rear ends of the slats or fingers 47, sothat the material passed over the same cannot possibly clog or stop thevi brations of the vibrating apron. An endless conveyer, consisting of apair of parallel laterally-spaced link belts or chains 53, tied togetherby cross-slats 54-, works over the faces of the fixed skeleton sectionformed by the fingers or slats 47 and over the upper face of thevibrating or shaking apron or deck 49 50. The said chains 53 run oversprocket-wheels 55 56, the former of which are fixed on a transverseshaft 57,1nounted in suitable bearings secured to the rearends of theanglebars 1, and the latter of which are loose on fixed studs 58,projecting inward from the forward ends of said angle-bars 1. It will benoted by reference to Fig. 1 that the transverse bar 48, which supportsthe fingers 47, is offset at its ends to make room for thesprocket-wheels 56.

The ends of the shaft 57 project outward of the bars 1 and adjacent tosaid bars are provided with loose sprocket-wheels 59, provided withhalf-clutches 0'0. Just outward of these half-clutches 60 the shaft 57is provided with sliding half-clutches (31, which cooperate with saidhalf-clutches 60. The sliding halfclutches are, as is ordinary,connected to the shaft by means of a groove and feather (J2, and theyare normally held in engagement with their cooperating half-clutches 60by springs 63. They are adapted to be thrown out of engagement with saidhalf-clutches by shipper-levers 64, pivoted to supports 65, projectingfrom the angle-bars 1. Some suitable means should be provided forholding the shipper-lever (34 Where set; but it hasnot been deemednecessary for the purposes of this case to illustrate the same.

At its intermediate portion the shaft 57 is provided wit-l1 an eccentricor erankGG, on which works a strap or eccentric-rod 66, the forward endof which is pivotally connected to one of the cross-bars 50 of thevibrating or shaking apron 49 50. Hence it is obvious that the movementof the shaft 57 will not only cause the movement of the endless carrieror conveyer, but will also cause longitudinal vibrations of thevibrating apron. Under the advanced movement of the machine the shaft 57is given its rotary movement in the proper direction from a pair ofendless chains 67, which run over the driving-sprockets 7, over thesprockets 59, and over idle or guide sprockets (58, which are looselymounted on studs 69, projected outward from the extreme rear ends of theangle-bars 1.

Potatoes discharged off from the rear end of the vibrating table 49 50will fall onto an inclined deck 70, which is so constructed that it willdischarge the potatoes in windrows at one side of the machine. Theforward portion of this deck 70 is pivotallysupported to the dependingends of a pair of hangers 71, that are rigidly secured at their upperends to the rear ends of the angle-bars 1. At its intermediate portionthis deck 70 is provided with a caster-bracket 72, in which an.

eccentric caster-wheel 73 is pivoted at a point eccentric to its center,as shown at 74. Over the top of this inclined deck 70 is a skeletonframe 75, as shown, formed of slats and crossbars and at its forward endpivotally supported by a pair of hangers 76, that depend from and arerigidly secured to the rear ends of the angle-bars 1. At itsintermediate portion the skeleton frame 75 is pivotally sup- IIO portedfrom the deck 70 by a pair of short links 77. The slats of the over deck75 are spaced apart far enough to permit any potatoes which may bethrown thereon to fall through the same and onto the under deck 70.

78 indicates ball-bearings, with which, as shown, the drive-wheels 6 andsprockets 7 are provided.

Operation: The frame-sections 1 and 3 have a toggle-joint movement withrespect to each other in the act of raising and lowering the shovel orplow-blade 46, and this movement is readily accomplished by the driverwhile sitting on the seat 35 simply by turning the tension-rod 41, so asto increase or decrease the distance between the nut-block 39 and theswiveled joint 42. In this manner the shovel or plow-blade may be givensuch movements as are ordinarily necessary to throw the same low enoughto unearth pototoes and to raise the same above the ground when out ofuse. Additional adjustment may, however, be given to the frame-sectionsand to the shovel or plow-blade by the manipulation of the hand-crank32, which, through the intermediate worm-aud-gear connections, will movethe pivot-bolt or pintle 19 vertically through the pole-casting 22 andforward end of the framesection 3. This latter-noted adjustment alsomakes it possible to keep the pintle or pivotbolt 1 9 approximatelyvertical throughout the diiferent adjustments caused by the movements ofthe hand-crank 45 and tension-rod 41. It will be noted that thescrew-threaded upper end 21 of the pintle or pivot-bolt 19, whileserving as a rack under the action of the wormgear 27, permits the freerotation or oscillations of the forward truck, as is necessary when themachine is turned or driven on a curved line. As best shown in Fig. 4,the flattened head 18 of the pintle 19 has considerable clearance at itslower edge, so that the bent axle 13 is free for a limited oscillationin a transverse vertical plane. This permits the wheels of the fronttruck to adapt themselves to all irregularities in the surface of theground over which the machine travels. When the machine is thrown intoaction, the half-clutches 61 are of course engaged with thehalf-clutches 60, as shown in Fig. 1, thus throwing the endless conveyer53 54 into action and vibrating the skeleton apron 49 50.

The potatoes and dirt raised by the shovel or plow-blade will be crowdedupward onto the fixed slats 47, and from thence they will be carriedonto and over the vibrating or shaking skeleton apron 49 50. Thevibrations of the shaking apron will separate the dirt from the potatoesand cause the dirt to fall through the meshes or openings therein, whilethe potatoes, not being able to pass through these openings, will becarried over the apron and discharged onto the inclined discharge-deck70, from whence they will be discharged, at

one side of the machine, as previously described. The potato-vines willbe thrown onto the skeleton frame or over deck 75 and by the same willbe discharged in the path over which the machine has just traveled andto one side of the row of discharged potatoes. The movement of theeccentric wheel 73 will keep the deck and over-deck 75 constantly movingup and down, thus preventing the potatoes from clogging or accumulatingon the deck 70 and the vines from accumulating on the over-deck or frame75. As is obvious, this movement greatly facilitates the discharge ofthe materials noted.

When the machine is outof use, the shovel or plow-blade 46 is of courseraised above the ground, this being accomplished by the means and in themanner above specified. Also, as previously indicated, the endlessconveyer and vibrating skeleton apron are rendered idle by separatingthe cooperating halfclutches 6O 61.

Attention is here called to the fact that with the construction abovedescribed the conveyer and vibrating platform will not be moved when themachine is run backward, and, furthermore, that both of thetractionwheels 6 are made to serve as drivers having independent actionson the parts driven thereby, so that in turning a curve, for example,the outer wheel being driven the faster of the two will at that time bethe driver.

It will of course be understood that various alterations in the specificdetails of construction above described may be made within the scope ofmy invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. In a potato-digger, the combination with a pair of frame-sectionspivotally connected for a toggle-joint action, of truck-wheels sup-'porting each of said sections, an unearthingshovel fixed to one of saidsections, and a tension-rod swiveled to one of said sections and havingscrew-threaded engagement with a part carried by the other section,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a potato-digger, the combination with the parallel side bars 1,tied together by, the yoke 2, of the pronged frame-section 3, pivoted tosaid bars 1, at 4, the nut-block 39 fixed against rotation, butotherwise loosely mounted in the upper portion of the yoke 2, and thetension-rod 41 swiveled to said section 3, havin g screw-threadedengagement with said nut block 39 and provided with the hand-crank 45,by means of which it may be turned, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN R. HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

BEssIE B. NELsoN, F. D. MERCHANT.

